Daily Archives: 2006-08-16

We had a fairly cloudy/cold day out here today, and I was not looking forward to having the kids in the house all the time again.Â So, I did what any sane parent would do: get out of the house.Â We spent about 2 1/2 hours at the mall during midday and did some shopping for birthday cards, Marnie’s gift, and school backpacks.Â

Tomorrow, I’ll sit down with the boys and figure out a craft they can make for Marnie’s birthday.Â I’ll see if I can get them to make her some birthday cards as well.Â All I have to do is try to keep it a secret from Marnie (who doesn’t read this blog anyway).Â More than likely, one of the boys will start telling her all about it! 🙂

I’m actually finding things a bit weird.Â When summer holidays started for Jared, I was panicking about how to fill the days so they’ll be happy.Â Now that Jared is going to Grade 1 full time, and Ryan is going to pre-school three afternoons a weeks, I’m worried about what to do with all my time.Â Just weird.

ReadingSoul of the Samurai (Thomas Cleary)Â Â – If anyone can point me to an authors web site, I’d appreciate it.

WritingI outlined scenes 40 and 41, which is pretty much all I have right now.Â I should probably add at least 20 more scenes, but without an additional sub-plot, I may not be able to.Â I’ll start fleshing out the outlines a bit more tomorrow, and see where it gets me.Â Right now, the antagonist basically stays in the background.Â He’s a plot motivator, but not a central character.Â I think if I can bring him to the forefront a bit more, I’ll get a more solid story, and my extra scenes.I outlined scenes 40 and 41, which is pretty much all I have right now.

Here are a couple of things I found on the net today.Â This is a cool speed test for your Internet connection.

Clarkesworld is a new (for me) online magazine that pays about 10 cents a word.

And finally, a piece of advice I found on the Asimov’s board.Â There is a thread talking about the best thing any one has said to you, as you were leaving their employ, and this one just stuck with me:“You must never be above telling a bold faced lie.Â Now off with you!”It was told by a boss to his employee on the employee’s last day.